RALEIGH, N.C. — An inmate at Central Prison was found dead in his bed early Wednesday, and prison officials classified the death as suspicious.
The prison staff found James Lewis Upright, 74, dead in his bed at about 5:20 a.m. Wednesday.
The cause of death is unknown.
Upright was sentenced to 221 months in prison for convictions on two counts of first-degree attempted sexual offense in May 1997. His projected release date was November 2012.
Upright's body has been sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill for an autopsy.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating, and Central Prison administrators will conduct an internal investigation.
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